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Alleghany
County Notables
Alleghany County
Once known as the Lost Province due to its early isolation, Alleghany County is now known as the Unspoiled Province because of its preserved, scenic beauty and undeveloped outdoors.
Located on the Eastern Continental Divide in northwestern North
Carolina, this Unspoiled Province is nestled between ancient rivers
and age-old mountains that reach splendid heights of 3,000 to 4,000
feet.
Alleghany County's charm and pleasant atmosphere is matched by a
comfortable and gentle climate. Even on the hottest days of summer,
a cool refreshing breeze is guaranteed by the lofty elevation.
For the visitor seeking recreation, there are miles of hiking
trail in the the state and national parks -- Stone Mountain and New
River State Park and Blue Ridge Parkway -- as well as along county
back roads. Camping is available at Doughton Park as well as at a
number of private campgrounds.
Canoe outfitters offer canoes, kayaks, rafts and tubes for floats
down the New and Little Rivers. For the angler, the rivers and
streams are famous native trout, smallmouth bass, musky and good
fishing.
For the golfer, the mountains offer a unique challenge impossible
to duplicate on a flat landscape and a number of local golf courses
are open to the public.
For those with an ear for musical entertainment, your choices
range from traditional to contemporary.
You'll be able to spoil yourself in Alleghany County by relaxing
and experiencing a special kind of contentedness that comes from
having no crowds, hustle, or added pressure. You may enjoy leisurely
strolls or an antiquing and crafting adventure in shops that offer a
variety of unique folk art and fine collectibles. It's up to you,
because remember, you're at your own pace here, so do anything you
want, spoil yourself in the Unspoiled Province.
Visit Alleghany County, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy
the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Sparta NC
Sparta North Carolina is located at the crossroads of the
county's two main corridors -- US 21 and NC 18 -- Sparta NC is the
physical center as well as the focus of community life for Alleghany
County. Like many southern towns, the Courthouse is the center of
town. The old central business district recalls the charm of the
town's early history. Two shopping centers speak more to recent
growth.
Sparta is home to Alleghany High School, Sparta Elementary School
-- the largest of three elementary schools in the county -- the
satellite campus of Wilkes Community College, Alleghany Memorial
Hospital and four of the county's largest manufacturers.
The town also features one of the most complete public parks for
a community of its size, Crouse Park. The property was the home of
R. Floyd and Crystal Crouse and left to the town in honor of Mr.
Crouse's parents, Floyd and Ellen Gambill Crouse.R. Floyd Crouse
(1892-1969) was Sparta's first mayor following incorporation in
1925. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and the Harvard
Law School, he was was one of the community's most prominent lawyers
during the middle of the 20th century and a champion of conservation
causes.
The park features a basketball and volleyball court, horseshoes
and exercise and play equipment for all ages from toddlers through
adults. There are two covered picnic pavilions. It is encircled by a
paved walking course. And the Course home is available for public
functions.
Sparta is governed by a five-member elected council and mayor.
The town manager handles day-to-day concerns. The town office is
located at 304 South Main Street.
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History
Alleghany County NC was created from land carved out of what was
primarily Ashe County in 1859. James H. Parks was an early
businessman whose store stood near the present location of the ABC
store. He was one of three men who donated land for the county seat
in 1866 and is credited with suggesting naming the town after the
Greek city-state.
The present Alleghany County NC Courthouse was constructed in
1910 and is listed in the National Register of historic buildings.
Noteworthy businesses include: The Alleghany News, which traces its
history to The Alleghany Star, established in 1889 by A.S. Carson.
The Bank of Sparta was established in 1902 and merged with three
other banks to form Northwestern Bank in 1937 under the leadership
of Sparta businessman Edwin Duncan. It grew to be a major financial
institution in northwestern North Carolina until it was bought by
First Union in the late 1980s. Like many southern communities, the
Sparta NC Courthouse occupies the
town's center. Today's Alleghany County NC Courthouse is modeled
after the original 1909 structure that burned in the 1933 fire.
Little more than the columns and foundation remained.
During the early part of the 20th Century, the Alleghany
countryside was dotted with small farms and Saturday would see farm
families pour into Sparta to visit and trade. One of the prominent
stores of that time was N.B. Smithey's store, the large rock
building next to the town office built in 1936. Smithey had
built a number of such stores in communities in the northwest
mountains, forerunners of the modern department store. Smithey's
sold clothing, household goods, groceries and even sported a cafe.
The Smithey's chain closed in the 1990s with the death of Mr.
Smithey's son-in-law who had inherited the business.
Another prominent store of the time was Farmer's Hardware,
located across from the Courthouse. Opened in 1936, R. Amos Wagoner,
Sr. bought into the business in 1937 and it remains in the Wagoner
family today. It has the longest history in Sparta of operating out
of the same location and under the same ownership.
In the latter half of the 20th Century, small farms were
consolidated into larger operations and much of the employment moved
to manufacturing. The county's oldest manufacturer, Sparta
Industries, began as D&P Pipe works in 1943, and produces Dr.
Grabow pipes. The county's largest employer, Bristol Compressors,
opened in Sparta in 1994. Other large manufacturers in Sparta
include NAPCO and Magnolia Manufacturing.
The town's first shopping center, Trojan Village, was opened in
1977 by developer D.W. Miles. Another shopping center, Sparta Plaza
was opened in 1986 by Ken Richardson.
Fire has played a critical role in the town's development. In
January, 1933, a fire that began in Ray's Lunch Room (presently
Sparta Restaurant), burned half the buildings on the block, jumped
the street and destroyed businesses and much of the Courthouse
before it was brought under control.
The fire left little more than a shell where the Courthouse
stood. It was rebuilt, but being that this was the depression, the
newer structure lacked some of the grandeur of its predecessor. The
town had little in the way of a fire department and dynamite was one
of the tools used to bring the fire under control. This event
prompted the establishment of the Sparta Fire Department.
Shortly after midnight, Jan. 28, 1986, a traveler stopped in a
convenience store to report smoke was pouring from Sparta
Restaurant. Fire departments from Alleghany and surrounding
communities battled until early morning in temperatures as low as
minus nine degrees Fahrenheit to bring the town's second worst fire
under control. Four downtown businesses were destroyed, but the fire
was contained to that city block.
Determined not to be done in, the fire prompted a renewal of that
portion of town. The area was rebuilt and Sparta Restaurant
continues to operate from the same location.
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This page was last updated August 31, 2007.
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